H2PlasmaRed published the 4th peer-reviewed publication: Kinetic Modeling of Hematite Reduction by Hydrogen Plasma Smelting Reduction in Laboratory-Scale
We’re pleased to share H2PlasmaRed Horizon Europe’s 4th peer reviewed article publication by A Areej Javed, I Mäkelä, Henri Pauna, Henna-Riikka Putaala, U Manzoor, D Klapproth, I R Souza Filho and Ville-Valtteri Visuri in the Journal of Physics: Kinetic Modeling of Hematite Reduction by Hydrogen Plasma Smelting Reduction in Laboratory-Scale
The full article is available here: https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1742-6596/3050/1/012007
The steel industry accounts for about 8% of global CO2 emissions, primarily due to carbon-based compounds like coke for iron ore reduction, highlighting the importance of developing fossil-free reduction processes. Hydrogen-based reduction has emerged as a promising alternative to reduce CO2 emissions. In addition to hydrogen direct reduction, hydrogen plasma smelting reduction (HPSR) has been envisaged as a one-step process for melting, reducing, and refining steel from iron ore. Mathematical models and new monitoring methods are needed to control and predict the process. To this end, this work aimed to develop a kinetic model for the reduction of hematite (Fe2O3) to explore the dynamic interactions and reaction mechanisms in the HPSR process. The gas-metal-slag model is used to calculate the reactions occurring between the molten metal, liquid slag, and gas phase, using the effective equilibrium constant (EEC) approach, focusing on the stepwise reduction of hematite via magnetite (Fe3O4) and wüstite (FeO) to metallic iron (Fe). The model can predict (1) the dynamic changes in the composition of the metal and oxide phases during the reduction process (2) the relative reduction efficiencies of intermediate iron oxides under specific plasma conditions. The model predictions are validated using data from laboratory-scale experiments. The model predictions for the kinetic behavior of the system were found to be in good agreement with the experimental results.